John "Jack" Henry Nellenbach

John “Jack” Nellenbach of North Branch passed away on April 14, 2025, at the age of 89 with his family by his side.  John was born on September 4, 1935, the son of Henry and Helen (Horecki) Nellenbach.  John grew up on a Slattery Road farm and was a 1953 graduate of North Branch High School.  Throughout high school, John was very active in sports and excelled in baseball and basketball.  Education was important to John as he was the first in his family to attend a university.  John graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in education.  He remained passionate about MSU basketball and football, proudly cheering on the Spartans and rarely missing a game. 

On August 8, 1964, John married Ruth Ann “Nan” Weingartz, the love of his life.  Together they raised five children on the same farm where he learned lessons in life as a child.  While the farm, affectionately known as “Stoneyview”, was not the greatest crop producing property in the county, it provided abundant opportunities and learning experiences for a very close and active family.  Cattle, chickens, rabbits and Leader Dogs were very much part of the family.  Ruth Ann preceded John in death after 53 years of marriage in 2017.

After graduating from MSU, John taught and coached basketball and football in the Pontiac School System.  John and Nan lived in the Pontiac area for a short time before relocating back to North Branch.  In the mid-1970’s John was offered the opportunity to become a counselor and basketball coach at North Branch High School.   As a counselor, John took great pride in helping students find part-time jobs, prepare for a career, and acquire financial aid to fund their college education.  Coaching basketball was a passion, and he took as much pride in teaching a middle school student how to shoot a left-hand layup as he did in winning a varsity game. John was devoted to his Catholic faith, enjoyed watching the Mollie B Polka Party, supporting MSU/Detroit sports, touring the farm on his side-by side, playing poker and of course the trips to the casino with his friends.  

John is survived by his sister, Sandy (Ken) Chambers and his five children, Melissa (Pete) Doubek, Janel (Jeff) Caverly, Thomas (Christine) Nellenbach, Erica (Will) Aragones, and Patrick (Elizabeth) Nellenbach.  John will be missed by his twelve grandchildren, Andrew Doubek, Alexander (Emily) Doubek, Lindsey (Quentin) Callahan, Nathan Caverly, Kate Nellenbach, Matthew Nellenbach, Casey Aragones, Lauren Aragones, Jesse Aragones, Benjamin Aragones, Jack Nellenbach, Caroline Nellenbach and his great grandchild Clara Callahan.  John is preceded in death by his wife Ruth Ann, his brothers Jerry and Don, and parents Henry and Helen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Leader Dogs for the Blind.  The family will also be setting up a scholarship fund for North Branch students to attend college.

Family will be present for visitation on Tuesday, April 22 from 1 to 8 p.m. with rosary service at 7 p.m. at Blackburn Chapel-Martin Funeral Home in North Branch.  Funeral services with Fr. Sama Muma and Fr. David Speicher officiating will take place on Wednesday, April 23, at St. Mary’s in North Branch with a visitation beginning at 10 a.m. and mass at 11 a.m.  Burial services will occur at the St. Mary’s cemetery with a luncheon following.

You may share an online condolence to the family at www.blackburnchapel.com

Arrangements by Blackburn Chapel-Martin Funeral Homes

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John "Jack" Henry Nellenbach, please visit our floral store.